Posted on by Samantha Goyret

Reflections from the National Farm to School Network Annual Meeting in Minnesota

In August 2024, Samantha Goyret received a scholarship to attend the National Farm to School Network Annual Partner Meeting, on August 14-15, 2024, held in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Below are a few hot topics she wanted to share…

Farm to School efforts are near and dear to my heart. Since 2019, the NWTN Local Food Network has been playing a crucial role in bridging the gap between local agriculture and schools. Our organization, farming and school partners are the driving force behind programs that bring fresh, locally sourced food into school cafeterias, integrate agricultural education into the curriculum, and foster a deeper connection between students and their food.

Sam with David Hutabarat – Partnerships Director, National Farm to School Network

Earlier this year, the National Farm to School Network launched the Farm to School Coordinators Project, with support from USDA and Life Time Foundation. As part of this project, the National Farm to School Network is hosting a Community of Practice for 8 farm to school coordinators to engage in peer-learning and co-develop strategies to enhance farm to school implementation, and a School District Working Group which is a two-year cohort of 10 individuals from school districts across the country – including myself!

I was awarded the honor of participating in this Working Group with the goal of creating a farm to school coordinator position in our partnering school districts, and will help in the creation of resources that will be shared with other school districts also trying to create a farm to school coordinator position This initiative aims to scale up farm to school efforts nationwide by establishing dedicated coordinator positions in school districts.

Partnerships Matter

Image above (left to right): Lynsey Paul – TN Farm to School Coordinator – TN Department of Education, Samantha Goyret – Co-Director – NWTNLFN, and MarLea Finch – Assistant Director of School Nutrition, TN Department of Education. Learn more about the State of TN Farm to School Program.

Partnerships are fundamental. Farm-to-school initiatives build relationships between schools and local farms, support student access to local food, create new opportunities for education and health promotion, and benefit local economies.

This image by FoodConnect shows how interconnected Farm to School initiatives can be when they incorporate the 3 C’s model:
~ Community: Engage the community.
~ Cafeteria: Use this area to promote local foods and farms.
~ Classroom: Implement a farm to school curriculum and learning experience.

The Importance of Indigenous Food Pathways

Indigenous foods like Bear Island Flint Corn (image above), Tepary Beans, Gete Okosamin Squash, Wild Rice, and Tinpsita are being served in Minnesota schools.

“Our palates have been colonized by salt and sugar.”
–Linda Black Elk

There were several guests speakers and opportunities to learn more about the following indigenous food initiatives:
~ Incorporating Indigenous Foods through the new USDA standards around Culturally Relevant Meals
~ Showcasing of schools like Red Cloud School and how they are promoting sustainable agriculture, education, and traditional food systems
~ How organizations like the North American Indigenous Food Systems (NATIFS) are increasing access to indigenous foods
~ Indigenous foods, and their seeds, that are being grown and integrated into school meals.
~ Where to find indigenous food products
~ And a really great restaurant that sits on the Mississippi and serves indigenous foods – OWAMNI -I ate the smoked bison taco and smoked trout and bean dip. It was delicious!

Embed EQUITY in Farm to School and Farm to Early Childcare

NFSN Call to Action

From first foods to last foods, we all deserve a racially just food system, but what does this mean, and what does that look like in the communities we serve? The National Farm to School Network is encouraging school & community partners to position Farm to School as a framework for food justice. Learn more about the NFSN Call to Action: they are issuing a call to action for oneself and for our entire food system where 100% of communities will hold power in a racially just food system.

“Access is a tricky word. Just because something is available, doesn’t mean kids have access to it.”
–Alena Paisano

“We need to position Farm to School as a framework for Food Justice.” – Trisha Bautista Larson, National Farm to School Network

Schools Should Teach about Global Warming

Shelburne Farms to Institute for Sustainable Schools’, Betsy Rosenbluth, lead this conversation by starting with a playdough activity and encouraging participants to create an object that symbolizes their feelings about climate change.

Climate change is a complex topic to teach. In addition to teaching the science behind climate change, it is critical to help students become effective climate change communicators. Learn more about Yale’s Program on Climate Change Communication program for educators grades 6-12.

Climate Change messaging, in 5 facts and 10 words:

  1. It’s Real.
  2. It’s Us.
  3. It’s Bad.
  4. Scientists Agree.
  5. There’s HOPE.

Action Steps:

  1. Promote waste management strategies in school cafeterias.
  2. Leverage the need to feed our children – POLICY.
  3. Highlight climate change and impact numbers.
  4. Farm to School teams can find creative ways to educate about carbon solutions.
  5. Educate children, teachers and the community about the benefits of composting.
  6. Move towards values-aligned procurement => focusing on environmental sustainability by choosing products from farms that are close and use GAP and ecologically sound practices (GAP – Good Agricultural Practices).
  7. Educate about food footprints.
  8. Uplift land stewardship.
  9. Keep talking about it – work with school food service staff, school admin, teachers, farmers and community organizations.

Climate Resources:
~ climategen.org/talk-climate/
~ Project Drawdown
~ Six Americas Super Short Survey
~ How Farmers Farm – and eaters eat – impacts the climate. Farmer Stories.
~ ETC Group Report: Who will Feed Us?
~ Yale’s Program on Climate Change Communication program for educators grades 6-12.

Local Foods in Local Schools

“Because you deserve a fresh, from scratch, warm, and savory meal prepared thoughtfully right here at school.”
– Red Cloud School Lunch Project

“We have an obligation to our children to offer fresh, LOCAL lunches to GREAT LOCAL kids.“
~ Bertrand Weber, Director, Culinary & Wellness Services, Minneapolis Public Schools

How do we as a system create more opportunities to increase access to fresh, local foods?

Minnesota has several amazing organizations and initiatives that are working towards a just and equitable local food system.

The Good Acre Food Hub

Minnesota Free Schools Meals for All

Culinary & Wellness Services at Minnesota Public Schools

Appetite for Change

Hmong American Farmers Association (HAFA)

REAP Food Group (based out of Wisconsin)

NATIFS.org – NORTH AMERICAN TRADITIONAL INDIGENOUS FOOD SYSTEMS

Thanks for reading and digging into all of the incredible resources in this post! We look forward to cultivating more farm to school relationships throughout our region and beyond.

~ Samantha Goyret
Local Food Network Team Blogger